Last month six photographers participated in the 10×10 challenge and took 10 shots in 10 minutes. This month we will be bringing 10 prints to pass around and discuss for a minute per image. Hence the title of the monthly meet-up: 60×60. Hopefully if all has gone to plan we will have 60 prints to look at.

If you missed the last meeting it is not to late to take your own 10×10 challenge and bring the results along to share. Pick a place, set a timer and create.

Last month’s reading touched upon how photographers capture and collect the moments around them, but also how the reality depicted in the print and the reality of life differ greatly. Did those 10 minutes preserve something real? Was art or artefact created?

Everyone is welcome to attend, we look forward to seeing you there!

As we experiment with new formats for the monthly meetings we would appreciate any ideas or feedback for improving – leave a comment here, tweet, facebook message or comment on instagram!

Advance warning – in August we intend to have one or two festival exhibition meet-ups. Do send your suggestions in for shows or exhibitions to check out!

The minute you start saying something, ‘Ah, how beautiful! We must photograph it!’ you are already close to the view of the person who thinks that everything that is not photographed is lost, as if it had never existed, and that therefore, in order really to live, you must photograph as much as you can, and to photograph as much as you can you must either live in the most photographable way possible, or else consider photographable every moment of your life. The first course leads to stupidity; the second to madness.”

The next DCC meeting will be on Wednesday June 6th at 7pm at the Outhouse on Broughton Street Lane. Weather permitting, we suggest everyone heading out to take 10 shots in 10 minutes – for discussion around the act of making images, and potentially for showing the images at a future DCC…

The AGM generated lots of enthusiasm and ideas. We will spend the Summer consolidating these ideas whilst trying out new formats and venues. Please see the subsequent post about the next DCC meeting which will be on Wednesday June 6th at 7pm. Everyone is welcome as are all ideas!

AGM 3rd May 2018 Agenda Summary

1. Volunteers.

We discussed how to have a stress free experience volunteering with the DCC. The structure will be kept flat with people stepping in as needed to do the admin tasks. The responsibility of arranging meetings will lie with the regular members working together and we will try out some new formats to see how this can best be done.

2. Venues for meetings and exhibitions.

The Wash Bar was very welcoming and we all agreed it was a great place for an AGM or discussion type of meeting, however display space for work was limited so we will try another couple of venues which were suggested to see if they work better for the display of work.

3. Update Manifesto.

It was easier to agree what we were not. We are not a traditional camera club! We keep our options open so we can amend the manifesto as needed. We will meet, show physical work, discuss and debate but keep technical chat to the absolute minimum and make the reason/story behind the the work paramount.

4. Members.

Membership will be open to all and free. After the summer consolidation work and re-branding we will re-launch fully in September. In the meantime everyone is welcome to come along as usual while experiments with format and content take place. We welcome feedback on what members would like to do and see.

5. Format and content of meetings.

Several suggestions have been made.

-Having a topic over a few sessions with one meeting to discuss examples and texts, one to go out and make work collectively, one to critique what members have produced.
– Each member contributing one image (or text) on the theme for an initial topic debate before members work is viewed and discussed.
– Mixing the regular theme nights with exhibition visit/photobook reviews, critical reading discussion, long term project nights, archive visits, collection discussions, collaborative exhibitions/books, fun techniques to loosen up and inspire new work, site visits to make work…

We will try out a few of these new formats to see what people enjoy most.

We are setting up a Bank Of Ideas please leave a comment with what you would like to take part in? Comments are welcome on FB, Instagram and Twitter too.

Ben Harman has offered to meet with DCC members to outline new initiatives which Stills will be undertaking in 2018.

The meeting is scheduled for the afternoon, or early evening, of Monday April 9th. The choice of time depends on the preference of DCC attendees.

The changes to engagement and exhibition policies which Ben will be describing will be of interest to all Stills users. You may thus like to come to this meeting even if you no longer attend DCC sessions.

I’ll collect names for the Ben Harman meeting at the next DCC meeting on April 6th. If you are not going to be at the DCC meeting, but would still like to go to the Ben Harman meeting, please email me at john@sumpter01.plus.com.

I had a meeting with Ben Harman, the Director of Stills yesterday. The meeting was at his request; although about a year ago, I had a similar meeting with him (at my request) to pitch the idea that Stills should resume a greater role in the running of the DCC. At that stage, he didn’t want to make any commitments until Stills knew the status of their Creative Scotland funding application.

Stills now know that they have got that core funding from Creative Scotland for the next three years. However, they face a large rates rise from Edinburgh Council, which leaves them with a deficit that they need to fill by increasing revenue generating activities.

In this circumstance they are no longer prepared to offer the DCC free use of the meeting area. As a commercial fee they would be looking at about £150 to cover each meeting.

Parallel to this they are launching a new course on ‘Reading Photography’ which sounds similar to a course which some members may remember David Grinly running about six or seven years ago. They want to run this new course on Thursday nights starting in May.

There are of, course possibilities, to change the venue for DCC. At this stage I must declare my personal position, which is that I don’t wish to lead any such initiative.

The club is at a low ebb now compared to its heyday. The smaller meetings are enjoyable, but there is no denying that attendance is dwindling. My personal inclination is to call it a day, and make the April Meeting the last meeting for the DCC. There is nothing to stop anyone else picking up the format and making a fresh start at a new venue.

The next meeting will go ahead at Stills on Thursday April 5th. We will retain the Neighbourhood theme, but start with a discussion of the future of the DCC. All attendees are welcome to put forward their views, or volunteer to take things forward.

I invited Ben Harman to attend the meeting, but he is unfortunately away on Easter holiday. He has offered to meet with club members in the week beginning April 9th. I will post the exact date when I have it.